Apparatus for conditioning yarn and other strand materials



Jan. 30, 1940. D. E. MILLS ET AL APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING YARN AND OTHER STRAND MATERIALS Filed Dec. 10, 19 36 Sheets-Sheet 1 flwzawm gmimms Jan. 30, 1940 D. E. MILLS ET AL 2,188,442

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING YARN AND OTHER STRAND MATERIALS Filed Dec. 10, J.936 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 30, 1940. D. E. MILLS ET AL 2,188,442

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING YARN AND OTHER STRAND MATERIALS Filed Dec. 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet s 1940- D. E. MILLS ET AL 2,188,442

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING YARN AND OTHER STRAND MATERIALS Filed Dec. 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 30, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING YARN AND OTHER STRAND MATERIALS D. E. MILLS El AL Filed Dec. 10, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5'- W I 1/0 W Patented Jan. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING YARN AND OTHER STRAND MATERIALS David E. Mills, Warwick, and George N. Taylor, East Providence, R. I., assignors to Universal Winding Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 10, 1936, Serial No. 115,230

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for emulsifying or treating yarns and like strand materials with liquids during the linear travel of the strands as they feed from a source of supply in transfer processes such as in winding cops or packages.

In the present specification and claims the term yarn is used broadly to indicate any form of .strand material such as silk, rayon, cotton or the like, and the term "package" is employed in a generic sense to designate the product of the machine in which or on which the yarn is moistened, emulsified or otherwise treated.

One object of the invention is to provide an emulsifying apparatus or moistening device for applying a uniform amount of liquid to the yarn during its linear travel whatever the rate of speed of its draft may be.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated for use with standard types of winding machines wherein the yarn is wound on a support or holder having a constant speed of rotation with the linear speed of the yarn increasing as the package grows in diameter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated having means for contacting the yarn with a wetted surface across which it feeds and means for varying the thickness of the film of liquid on said surface and thereby the amount of liquid applied to the yarn directly in proportion to itslinear speed whereby to moisten the material uniformly throughout the winding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated having means cooperating with a rotating cylinder across which the yarn feeds for controlling the thicknessof the liquid film thereon in proportion to the change in diameter of the package being wound to gradually increase the thickness of the liquid film as the linear speed of the yarn increases.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which is simple and compact in structure, efflcient and positive in performing its intended function, and adapted for use over long periods of time without requiring adjustment, repair or replacement of its parts.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes two forms of construction of the apparatus, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a multipleunit winding machine showing the present improved emulsion apparatus or moistening device applied to use therewith for automatic operation therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the emulsifying apparatus or moistening device for one winding unit showing the blade for controlling the thickness of the liquid film on the contact cylinder or roll in its initial position at the beginning of a winding operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the blade in its extreme opposite position at the end of a winding operation to effect a maximum thickness of the liquid film;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the emulsifying apparatus or moistening device showing the relationship of the blade to the moistening cylinder or contact-roll;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the operating parts of the apparatus shown in partly disassembled relationship;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the apparatus in which the blade is mounted to rock about an axis eccentric to the axis of the contact-roll; k

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the operating mechanism for the modified form of apparatus showing the relationship of the parts at the beginning of a winding operation;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the relationship of the parts at the end of a winding operation;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 9-9-of Fig. 6 showing the relationship of the film-controlling blade to the roll at the beginning of a winding operation;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the film-controlling blade rocked to displace it away from the roll to increase the thickness of the liquid film thereon; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the parts of the modified form of apparatus shown in partly disassembled relationship.

Certain varieties of textile materials such as silk, cotton and rayon yarns require conditioning by the application of a liquid or an emulsion thereto and the process of treatment is most conveniently and economically practiced during the transfer of the material from one form of supply-package to another. For example, it is the usual practice to emulsify or oil silk and rayon yarns in transferring the strand material from cakes or skeins to cones' or other forms of supply-packages, from which the material is eventually delivered to further processes such as weaving or knitting. Likewise, cotton yarns are moistened or treated in a similar manner during the process of winding the material from spools or bobbins onto cones or other forms of supplypackages.

In the present specification the improved emulsifying apparatus ormoistening device is illustrated and described in connection with a machine for winding canes from any suitable form of supply, the winding machine beingof standard type for producing cross-wound packages with a V-wind. In this type of winding machine the yarn is wound on a positively rotated mandrel or spindle having a substantially constant rate of speed so that .as the package is built up in overlying layers of increasing dimeter the linear speed of the yarn is gradually accelerated from start to finish of the winding. To adapt the emulsifying apparatus or moistening device for use with machines of thisrtype,

or for other processes in which the yarn has a varying speed of draft, means are provided for gradually increasing the amount of liquid on the wetted surface or, in other words, the thickness of the film on the moistening element in accordance with the increment in the linear-speed of the yarn.

The winding machine illustrated in the present drawings is of a standard type such as shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,838,538 to E. A. DeWolf, issued December 29, 1931, and therefore only its essential parts are herein referred to. The machine has a bed or table I, mounted on legs 2 supporting a plu-' rality of winding heads or units 3. Each head comprises a frame 4 mounting bearings for a rotatable winding-spindle 5 which may be driven from any suitable source of power by means not herein shown. The operation of the machine is controlled by a starting lever 6 carried on a rockable rod I mounted in the upper part of the frame 4 and connected to operate a suitable clutch between the driving means and the spindle 5. A suitable detent-latch 8 carried by the lever B is engaged by a detent-catch 9 on a rockable quadrant It to normally maintain the starting lever 9 in position to continue the operation of the machine; and automatic stopping mechanism is actuated to release the detents 8 and 9 to arrest the operation of the machine when the yarn breaks or its supply fails. All the above instrumentalities are well known to those versed in the art and therefore need no further description herein.

Mounted on the forwardly-projecting end of each winding-spindle 5 is a suitable mandrel i5 adapted to hold a cop-tube t on which the yarn y is wound. The. yarn is traversed lengthwise of the cop-tube or yam-receiver t to lay it in helical coils thereon through the means of a reciprocating thread-guide indicated generally by the' reference character IS. The thread-guide I 9 is carried at the outer end of a reciprocable traverse-rod l1, the inner end of which is connected to a cam, not herein shown, to cause the guide to be reciprocated. The thread-guide l6 and traverse-rod ll are mounted on a swinging traverse-frame It.

The traverse-frame I8 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 22 and is provided with a back 23 against which the thread-guide l6 bears as it slides therealong. The traverse-frame i8 is counterweighted by means of a downwardlyextending leg 24 whereby its upper portion tends to swing toward the axis of the winding-spindle 9 to hold the thread-guide l8 bearing against the surface on which the winding is performed.

A tension-device is mounted on a bracket l9 fastened to the frame 4; beingadapted to apply resistance to the draft of the yarn 1/ as it leads up from its source of supply, not herein shown, and feeds'through the thread-guide It.

The yarn y is traversed longitudinally of the winding-spindle I to deposit it in layers on the cop-tube t and as the package increases in diameter the thread-guide I9 is forced outwardly from the spindle, thereby swinging the traverseframe l9 about its pivot on the shaft 22. Means are usually provided for cooperating with' the quadrant Ill to prevent the thread-guide it from moving back toward the winding-spindle, a traverse-dog of well-known construction being shown as employed for this purpose.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 the moistening or emulsifying device comprises a trough or tank 49 which extends the whole length of the gang liquid L are moistening elements herein illustrated as small cylinders or contact-rolls 43 carried on a shaft 44, there being one roll for each of the winding heads 3. The shaft 44 is rotatably Journaled in suitable bearings .45 at the ends of the trough 4| i and at one end of the shaft is a stepped pulley 49 adapted to be driven from a belt or band 41 connected to a going element of the winding machine. Usually, the shaft 44 is driven from a counter-shaft Journaled in bearings on the legs 2 of the gang machine, these connections not being herein shown or described in detail asv they form no part of the present invention. Sufllce it to state that the shaft 44 is driven to rotate the moistening rolls 43 at a suitable speed to maintain the surface of the rolls wetted to the proper degree from the bath of fiuid or emulsion L in the trough 40.

Mounted in bearing lugs 43 at the forward side of the trough 49 is a rod 49 carrying a series of radially-extending wire arms 50 having pigtail yarn-guides ii at their ends. Depending from the tension-device bracket l9 are similar arms 52 having pigtails 53 at their lower ends positioned rearwardly of the rollers 43. The

pigtails SI and 53 guide the yarns from the 7 on the forward side of the trough so below the rod 49 for controlling the ballooning and tensioning'the yarns in the pigtails 5| to hold them taut as they run over the rolls 43. Preferably, the rolls 43 are driven in the opposite direction from the direction in which the yarn feeds,

but this is not" essential to the proper functioning of the apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided for controlling the thickness of the liquid film adhering to the periphery of the rolls 43', the control means being automatically operated during the winding of a package to increase the thickness of the film as the linear speed of the yarn increases. To this end a series of wiper-blades 60 are provided for cooperation with the peripheries of the rolls 43. Each blade 60 is mounted to slide on a support or frame 6| comprising spaced arms 62 which straddle the sides of the roll 43; the arms having bearing hubs 63 through which the shaft 44 extends to mount the frame thereon. The arms 62 are joined together to form an integral structure by a loop-portion 64 extending forwardly of the bearing hubs 63 and along the front of the roll 43, see Fig. 5. At their rearward ends the arms 62 are connected by a crossbar 65 havinga rearwardly-extending car 66 slotted to form a yoke The yoke 61 straddles a rod 68 extending longitudinally of the tank and held in bosses at the ends thereof to hold the frame 6| against rotation on the shaft 44.

A guide-bar I0 is mounted on suitable forwardly-inclined flat seats 69 formed on the rearward ends of the arms 62. As herein illustrated the guide-bar 10 is attached to the seats 69 by means of screws H and the arrangement is such that the guide-bar tilts forwardly at an angle to the horizontal at the rear of the roll 43 and extends longitudinally thereof at an angle to the axis of the shaft 44, see Figs. 2 and 4. A slide 12 is mounted on the guide-bar 10, being formed with a slot 13 on its under side which fits the bar 10 with gibs I4 underlying the latter. The wiper-blade 60 is mounted on the slide 12 and secured in place by a screw I5 to position its forward edge in parallelism with the periphery of the roll 43. When the slide 12 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the relation of its edge to the periphery of the roll 43 is preferably such as to provide a minimum clearance therebetween; in practice approximately three one-thousandths of an inch. As the slide 12 is moved along the inclined guide-bar III to the position shown in Fig. 3 the edge of the blade is displaced away from the periphery of the roll 43 while maintaining its parallel relation thereto.

The slide I2 is moved along the guide-bar 10 by means of-a link 15 connected between a perforated ear "on the slide and an arm 18 on the depending leg 24 of the transverse-frame l8. As illustrated in Fig. I, the upper end of the arm 18 is pivotally mounted on a bolt 19 screwed into the leg 24 and its lower end is provided with a series of spaced holes 80, to any one of which the link 16 may be coupled to adjust the relative extent of movement of the slide I2 with respect to the traverse-frame i8. Intermediate its ends the arm I8 has a transverse, arcuate slot 3|, through which a screw 82 extends with a washer 83 under its head, the shank of the screw being threaded into. the leg 24. The relative position of the arm 18 with respect to the leg 24 may thus be adjusted byswinging the arm on its pivots cre w 19 after which the arm is clamped in adjusted position by tightening the screw 82 to bind the washer 83 against the side of the arm.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of one form of the present improved apparatus having now been described in detail its method of operation will be next explained. To

prepare the machine for winding, the end of the yarn strand 1! is drawn oil from its source of supply below the tank 40 and led throughthe pigtails 85, SI and 53 and. thence through the tension-device 20 and the traverse-guide It. The end of the yarn 1 is made fast to the coptube or other yarn-receiver t held on the wind-- lug-spindle 5 and the machine is ready for start-' ing; it having been noted that the pigtall 5| is adjusted by rocking the rod 49 to cause the yarn to make tangential contact with the top of the roll 43 to give the proper moistening effect.

When the machine is started by throwing the lever B the thread-guide I6 is reciprocated longitudinally of the winding-spindle 5 and the yarn traversed back and forth on the cop-tube t to dispose it in helical coils which build up in crosswound layers constituting the cone or other form of package as required. It has been explained that the wet roll or cylinder 43 is rotated from a going part of the winding machine, the direction of its rotation being preferably counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4. As the winding proceeds and the yarn is drawn through the pigtall thread-guides 5| and 53 and thence across the top of the roll 43, the roll being immersed in the liquid will carry a predetermined amount thereof upwardly in the form of an adhering film to apply it to the yarn during its contact with the top of the roll. At the beginning of the winding operation the traverse-frame l8 assumes the position illustrated at the left in Fig. 1, being maintained with I the thread-guide l6 resting against the cop-tube t by the weight of its.

counterbalancing leg 24. Due to the connection of the arm 18 on the leg 24 of the traverse-frame l8 with the slide 12 through the link I6 the blade 60 is shifted to. its extreme position to the right, as shown in Fig. 2; at which time the edge of the blade has a minimum clearance with respect to the roll 43. If at the beginning of the winding operation the blade 60 is not properly located to give the desired clearance the position of the arm 13 on the leg 24 may be altered by loosening the screw 82 and rocking the arm in the manneras previously explained. This adjustment is made to control the amount of liquid applied to the yarn in accordance with the requirements of different materials. It will also be understood that the point of connection of the link 16 with the arm 18 may be altered to give any particular ratio of movement. of the slide 12 with respect to that of the traversefram e i8 in accordance with the size or thickness of the yarn; since the larger the yarn the faster it will build up on the package and, consequently, the greater the increase in its linear speed during the winding. Only a slight contact of the yarn 1/ on the roll 43 is necessary to condition the material to the proper degree at the start of the winding when the linear speed of the strand is relatively slow and the change in thickness of the liquid film on the cylinder is regulated by the blade 60 to a predetermined value.

As the cop or package P builds up on the coptube t and its diameter increases, the linear speed of the yarn will be gradually accelerated and therefore with the speed of rotation of the roll 43 remaining constant a greater amount of the liquid must be supplied to uniformly condition the yarn being wound. This is accomplished by causing the blade 60 to move away from the periphery of the roll 43 during the winding operation to gradually increase the thickness of the liquid film. The receding movement of the blade I8 is eflected automatically by the swinging movement of the traverse-frame I8 transmitted through the link 16 to the slide I2 on which the blade 60 is mounted. As the traverse-frame I8 swings outwardly from the position illustrated at the left in Fig. 1 to that shown at the right in Fig. -1. the slide I2 is moved along the guidebar 10 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3. Due to the: inclination of the guide-bar 10 with respect to the axis of the shaft 44 theblade is bodily moved rearwardly so that its forward edge recedes from the periphery of the roll 43 while maintaining its parallel relation thereto. As a result, the space-between the blade 60 and the periphery of the roll 42 is gradually widened which permits a gradually increased thickness of the liquid film carried around on the surface of the roll. The increase in linear speed of the yarn is in direct proportion to the increase in diameter of the package being wound and therefore the movement of'the traverse-frame I8, which is connected to the slide 12 carrying the blade 60, will shift the blade in direct proportion to the increase in linear speed of the yarn. The shifting of the blade 60 causes it to recede from the roll 43, as before explained, and consequently the thickness of the liquid film on the periphery of the cylinder 43 is increased as the linear speed of the yarn increases so that a substantially uniform amount of the liquid is applied to the yarn strand 1; from start to finish of the widening operation. It is to be noted that due to the mounting of the frame 6I on the shaft 44 carrying the roll 43 any eccentricity or whip in the shaft will not vary the relationship between the roll and blade 60 to alter the thickness of the liquid film on the periphery of the roll.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, the frame on which the wiper-blade is mounted is rocked about an axis eccentric to that of the shaft 44 during the winding operation to cause the edge of the blade to recede from the periphery of the roll 89. In this modified form of the invention the arrangement of the tank 40 and shaft 44 carrying the moistening rolls is generally similar to that first described. The contact-roll 89, however, is of somewhat different form, being provided with a laterally-extending hub 90 having a set-screw 9| therein for fixedly securing the roll on the shaft 44. A cylindrical member 92 having a bore 93 eccentric to its axis is rotatably mounted on the shaft 44 with one end in abutting engagement with the collar 90. A collar 94 secured to the shaft 44 abutting the opposite end of the eccentric member 92 holds the latter from axial displacement on the shaft. The eccentric member 92 is adjustable about the shaft 44 and is held in adjusted position by a radially-extending arm 95 integral therewith which is connected to an arm 96 loosely mounted to pivot on the rod 49. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the arm 96 has a slot 91 extending throughout the greater portion of its length through which the reduced threaded end 98 of a stud 99 extends. The annular shoulder formed by the reduced portion of the stud 99 engages the arm 96 on one side and the stud is held in adjusted position by a nut I screwed onto its threaded end 98 and engaging a washer I02 to bind it against the opposite side of the arm. The larger shank-portion of the stud 99 beyond the shoulder extends through a hole IOI in the end of the arm 95 to provide a connection between the two arms. To adjust the position of the eccentric member 92 thenut I00 is released and the stud 9| slid along the slot 91 thus causing the member to rock about the shaft 44.

The wiper-blade III! is carried on a mounting,

I89 comprising a cylindrical sleeve I01 rotatably supported on the eccentric member 82 and carrying a vertical offset plate Ill connected to the sleeve by a web III. An elbow-shaped bracket II I has spaced, longitudinally-extending slots H2 in each arm, one of which is attached to the plate III by screws II2 extending through the slots. The slots III thus permit the bracket to be adjusted vertically on the plate I09 by loosening the screws H2. The blade I" is attached to the under side of the opposite arm of the bracket III by screws I I4 which extend through the slots III to permit horizontal adjustment of the blade. A U-shaped bail H6 is attached to and extends rearwardly from the plate Ill. As herein illustrated the ends of the legs of the bail III are threaded and one leg is passed through a hole in the plate I09 and secured thereto by means of nuts II6 set up against washers III on opposite sides of the plate; while the opposite leg extends through an arcuate slot 1. This latter leg of the ball I Il may be slid along the arcuate slot H1 in the plate I09 to adjust the bail in any desired angular relationship with respect to a horizontal plane, the adjustable end being fixedly clamped in position by cooperating nuts H8 and washers H8. The mounting or frame I06 is supported on one side by the eccentric member 92 and at its opposite side by a stud I20 projecting forwardly from a slide I2I. The slide I2I is mounted on a guide-bar I 22 extending longitudinally of the tank 40 in spaced parallel relation to the shaft 44. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the guide-bar I22 is of rectangular cross-section and the slide I2I has a bore of corresponding contour to prevent the slide from turning on the bar. As in the previously described form of the apparatus the slide I2I is shifted along the guidebar I22 by means of a link I28 connected between an ear I24 on the slide and the adjustable arm 18 on the traverse-frame I8.

To adjust the last-described device for cooperation with a winding unit the arm I8 is moved about its pivot on the leg 24 of the traverseframe I8 to cause the link I29 to shift the slide I2I to the position shown in Fig. 6 at the beginning of a winding operation. The blade I08 may then be adjusted horizontally and vertically by means of the screws H2 and H4 to locate its edge in proper relation to the periphery of the wet roll 89. The device may be further adjusted by rocking the eccentric member 92 to give the desired ratio of movement to the frame I for a predetermined increment of movement of the slide I2I in accordance with the character of the yarn to .be treated or conditioned.

The operation of the device is similar to that described with respect to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. As the yarn strand y is wound into a package it is drawn across the wetted roll 89 in tangentlal'contact with its periphery and the thickness of the liquid fihn is controlled by the edge of the blade I06. As the package increases in diameter which, in turn, increases the linear velocity of the yarn drawing across the periphery of the wetted roll 89, the arm I8 on the leg 24 of the traverse-frame I8 is swung to the left from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8. The movement of the arm I8 acts through the link I23 to shift the slide I2I along the guide-rod I22, thereby causing the stud I to ride along the under edge of the bail H5 .member 92.

which, as before explained, is inclined at an angle to the horizontal. The inclination of the bail I I5 thus causes the longitudinal movement of the slide III to rock the frame I05 about the The member 92 being mounted in eccentric relation to the axis of the shaft 44, the edge of the blade I06 is caused to recede from the roll 89 asthe blade moves upwardly to gradually increasejhe width of the gap between the blade and the roll. As the movement of the traverse-frame I8 is transmitted directly to the frame I05 the clearance between the edge of the blade I06 and the periphery of the roll 89 increases directly in proportion to the increase in linear speed of the yarn. The liquid film carried upwardly on the periphery of the cylinder therefore increases in thickness so that the amount of liquid applied to the yarn y is increased directly in proportion to the linear speed of the yarn.

In conditioning yarn and like textile materials during winding or other transfer processes where the yarn travels at high linear speed it is essential that the wet roll be rotated at a rapid rate in order to continuously present a fresh surface of the roll to the yarn. In conditioning devices of previous types high rotative speed of the roll is prohibitive as an excessive amount of the liquid will be carried upwardly thereby to apply an excessive amount to the yarn. In other words, it has heretofore been necessary to rotate the roll slowly to allow part of the liquid to drain off from its periphery and consequently the yarn could not be transferred with a rapid rate of draft. With the present improved apparatus, however, the roll may be rotated at as fast a rate as required since the wiper-blade effectually controls the amount of liquid carried by the roll so that an over supply of the same is prevented; the yarn being conditioned uniformly throughout its transfer by reason of the differential control.

Although the present improved conditioning or emulsifying apparatus is herein shown as located below the machine and applied to a particular type of winding machine, it is to be understood that the apparatus may be located in other positions and may be applied to other processes wherein its linear speed of draft progressively increases.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the invention provides a, relatively simple apparatus for treating materials with emulsions or other liquids and one which is automatically operative to uniformly treat a yarn or the like throughout its transfer irrespective of its varying linear speed. Still further, it will be observed that the apparatus is simple and compact in structure, positive and efficient in performing its intended function, and adapted for use over long periods of time witho it requiring repair or replacement of its parts.

Various modifications other than that herein shown may be made in the form and construction of the apparatus and the method of applying a member having a surface across which the yarn feeds at a progressively increasing linear vmachine to control the amount of liquid on the speed, means for applying liquid to said surface to form a film thereon, means for varying the thickness of the liquid film, and means for automatlcally actuating the last-named means to progressively increase the thicknessof the film 5 to apply a uniform amount of liquid to all parts of the yarn.

2. In combination with a winding machine having means .for' rotating a package at substantially constant speed to wind yarn thereon, an element having a continuous surface across which the yarn feeds in contact therewith, means for applying liquid to the surface of the contact element,- and means actuated from the winding element in accordance with the linear speed of the feeding yarn.

3. In combination with a winding machine having means for rotating a. package at substantially constant speed to wind yam thereon, amemher having a surface across which the yarn feeds in contact therewith, means for applying liquid to said surface to form a film thereon, and means for varying the thickness'of the film on said surface, said means being operative to increase the thickness of the film during the increase in linear speed of the yarn due to the growth of the package.

4. In combination with a winding machine having means for rotating a package at substantially constant speed to wind yarn thereon; a trough for containing liquid, a rotary element having a cylindrical surface partly immersed in the liquid in said trough, a blade adjacent the cylindrical surface of the rotary element and extending longitudinally thereof to control the thickness of the'film thereon, and means for guiding the yarn across the periphery of the element.

5. An apparatus for, treating yarn and other textile materials comprising a rotating element, means for applying liquid to the surface of the rotating element, means for directing theyarn across the surface of the rotating element as it feeds at a progressively increasing linear speed, means for varying the thickness of the liquid film on the rotating element, and automaticallyoperated means for actuating the last-named means to increase the thickness of the film to compensate for the increase in the linear speed of the yarn.

6. An apparatus for treating yarn and other textile materials comprising an element having a surface across which the yarn feeds in contact therewith, means for continuously applying liquid to the surface of said element, a wiperelement for controlling the amount of liquid on the surface of said element, means for mounting said wiper-element to adapt it to move in a path inclined to the surface of said element, and means for moving the wiper-element to cause it to recede from the surface of the wetted element.

'7. An apparatus for treating yarn and other textile materials comprising a rotating element, means for applying liquid to the surface of the element to form a film, means for directing the yarn across the surface of the rotating element as it feeds at a progressively increasing linear speed, means cooperating with the rotating element to regulate the thickness of the film, and means controlled by the yarn for adjusting the regulating means to progressively increase the thickness of the liquid film to compensate for the increase in the linear speed of the yarn.

element, means for mounting said wiper-blade to adapt it to move in a path inclined to the wetted surface of said element, and means for moving said wiper-blade to cause it to recede from the surface of the element to compensate for an increase in linear speed of the yarn feeding across said element.

9. In combination with a winding machine having means for rotating a package at substantially constant speed to wind yarn thereon, a rotating element, means for applying liquid to the surface of the rotating element to form a film thereon, means for directing the yarn across the surface of the rotating element in contact therewith, a movable control-member cooperating with the rotating element to govern the thickness of the liquid film thereon, and means operated by the growth in diameter of the package being wound to move the controlmember to increase the thickness of the film.

10. In combination with a winding machine having means for rotating a package at substantially constant speed to wind yam thereon, a trough for containing liquid, a rotary element having a cylindrical surface partly immersed in the liquid in said trough, a blade adjacent the cylindrical surface of the element and extending longitudinally thereof to control the thickness of the liquid film thereon, said blade being bodily movable away from the cylindrical surface, and means controlled by the growth of the package for moving the blade away from the rotary element to gradually increase the thickness of the liquid film thereon.

11. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, a thread-guide reciprocable with respect thereto, a traverse-frame for supporting the thread-guide to adapt it to recede from the winding spindle as the winding increases in. diameter, a trough for containing liquid, a roll rotatable in the liquid in the trough, a blade adjacent the periphery of the roll and extending longitudinally thereof to control the thickness of the liquid film thereon, said blade being mounted to move away from the roll, and means connecting the traverseframe to move the-blade to cause it to recede from the roll as the traverse-frame recedes from' the winding-spindle.

12. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, a thread-guide reciproaiaaua cable with respect thereto, a traverseframe for latter to slide along its guide as the traverseframe recedes from the winding-spindle.

13. In combination with a winding machine having means for rotating a package at sub-' stantially constant speed to wind yarn thereon, a member having a surface across which the yarn feeds in contact therewith, means for applying liquid to said surface to form a film, means for controlling the thickness of the film, and eccentric means operated from the growth of the package for actuating the control-means to increase the thickness of the film in accordance with the increase in linear speed of the yarn being wound.

14. In combination with a winding machine having means for rotating 2. package at substantially constant speed to wind yarn thereon, a trough for containing liquid, a roll rotatable in the liquid in the trough, a frame rockable about an axis eccentric to the roll, a blade carried by the frame and cooperating with the roll to control the thickness of the liquid film thereon,

and means for rocking the frame about its eccentric axis to move the blade away from the roll to thereby increase the thickness of the liquid film whereby to compensate for the increase in linear speed of the yarn being wound.

15. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, a thread-guide reciprocable with respect thereto, a traverse-frame for supporting the thread-guide to adapt it to recede from the winding-spindle as the winding increases in diameter, a trough for containing liquid, a roll rotatable in the liquid in the trough, a frame rockable about an axis eccentric to the roll, means for adjusting the position of said eccentric axis, a blade carried by said frame inparallel relation to the surface of the roll, and means for rocking the frame to move the blade away from the roll as the traverse-frame recedes from the winding-spindle whereby to increase the thickness of the liquid film on the roll. 

